Calif. Launches Online Voter Registration

California has joined 12 other states with online voter registration, launching its own system on Wednesday despite unanimous opposition from Republican lawmakers, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The new process is expected to be faster and more convenient for the 6.5 million Californians who are eligible to vote but are not registered.

The online system will search the database of the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles for the applicant's driver's license and additional identifying information to match it to the electronic form.

State Republican lawmakers voted unanimously to oppose the new system, citing concerns over security and worries about voter fraud.

Three other states with online voter registration systems experienced crashes in the last year after they were overburdened by people trying to use them just before the deadlines.

However, California Secretary of State Debra Bowen expressed confidence the new system, which has been extensively tested, will be able to handle the capacity. Other computer systems she oversees have been plagued by crashes and other failures

California’s deadline for voter registration this election year is October 22.